Santos Tour Down Under officials will assess fire-affected race routes to ensure they remain safe for riders
Tour Down Under officials will assess race routes impacted by the recent Adelaide bushfires to ensure they remain safe for riders during next month’s big event.
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Santos Tour Down Under officials have vowed to keep riders, officials and fans safe after devastating bushfires hit a plethora of race roads in the Adelaide Hills this past week.
Many of the men’s and women’s stage routes have been affected by recent bushfires.
Cudlee Creek – one of the worst hit areas – is bang in the middle of the men’s Stage 3 on January 23.
Race organisers were forced to conduct a safety audit when a bushfire savaged one of the routes prior to the race along roads in Kersbrook, Gumeracha and Cudlee Creek in January 2015.
As women’s ProSeries and men’s WorldTour teams approach touch down in Adelaide, and likely conduct reconnaissance training in affected areas, Events SA executive director Hitaf Rasheed said the organisation would assess all routes.
“We want to acknowledge the amazing work of the emergency services, especially the CFS, along with the councils and communities in these most difficult times, and our thoughts are with those people who have been impacted by the fires,” Rasheed said.
“It is too early to make any assessment on the impact of the recent fires on the Santos Tour Down Under men’s and women’s races.
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“When the time is right, we will be in contact with the councils and key stakeholders to assess the situation.
“We will also review the routes ourselves to make our own assessments.
“We will work closely with the councils and emergency services, and as always, the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved with the Santos Tour Down Under is our priority.”
More than four years ago a safety audit ensured Stage 3, which rode through Kersbrook, Gumeracha and Cudlee Creek was safe for riders, officials and fans after Sampson Flat fires forced preparation works a week behind schedule.
Crews worked to take down unsafe trees, clear roads and put out smouldering bushland.